Today's visit to Newk's for lunch with hubby had the potential to be four stars, but alas - it was not.
First of all, this place is large and I think every resident of Franklin, especially those with small children, choose noon today (Labor Day) to visit. Crowded, yes. Loud, very much so. Have to wait in line for small children to be indecisive and need to be lifted up to fix their drinks, yes - more than once. (Please note I am a great aunt, and a neighbor that absolutely loves the small children around. This is a child friendly restaurant, so I get it... but when there are lines everywhere - that is not the time for little Suzy to take 3 minutes to decide on Sprite. And I'm not exaggerating).
The crowded factor, and the tables being just slighter closer together than I would prefer, and nothing whatsoever to absorb any sound had me admittedly starting off not very happy. We had to weave through chairs and scooch along to get to our table, and that never starts me off on a positive note. The group of four right behind me (I felt like I was in the guy's lap) was LOUDLY discussing polics, so there's another factor that I'm not thrilled about.
Our lunch arrived quickly, and looked really very good upon presentation. Also note that Newk's has a significant condiment bar in the center, so if you needed hot sauce, salt, pickles, breadsticks, evidently everything except the kitchen sink - you could weave in and out from your table to go get it.
I ordered a half sandwich and half salad, hubby got the club with chips. Hubby is very pleased with his club, his review would probably be 4 or 5 stars. My half sandiwch was their homemade pimento cheese, which I was hesitant to order. I am, admittedly, a spice wimp, and sometimes people feel the need to put jalapeno in pimento cheese. Their menu mentioned nothing of spicy, hot, etc. - so I tenatively gave it a try, saying to myself that if it was hot, I would enjoy my half salad and be fine.
The pimento cheese was not hot, very "melty" and kind of flowing all over the place, but good. It was quite rich, and I dare say I don't know too many people that could eat a whole one of these without stomach troubles.
The salad looked great - I ordered the "Simply" which was mixed greens, romas, cheese, and croutons, with honey mustard. The order girl had asked if I wanted the dressing mixed throughout or on the side, and I thought what could be wrong? It's honey mustard... so mix, please. Wrong choice. Very wrong. Hot, spicy hot, honey mustard. I take a bite or two, and think this can't be... have hubby taste, and he agrees, it has an aftertaste kick that it most unpleasant.
I'm totally bummed, because I have this chilled bowl with otherwise a great accompaniment to my hot, melty sandwich - and I can't eat it. The thought of weaving in and out again to correct my salad has me less than enthused... had already had to do the table weaving dance twice because when you order water they give you the tiny child size clear cups (I hate that, too!), and I just wasn't in the mood.
As hubby was finishing, a busboy walked by and hubby asked if there was wasabi in the honey mustard or something - and the busboy went to check. He came back reporting they had no wasabi (I presume in the loudness he thought we were asking for wasabi), and then another older worker stopped by as well. He explained that about 4-5 times a month someone complains about the spiciness of the honey mustard, that they use cayenne pepper. He loves it. I do not, I tell him.
Call me crazy, but if 4-5 people per month complain... then how many others do you think don't complain, but are unhappy? If you're going to have something as innocent as honey mustard dressing be spicy, then YOU SHOULD TELL PEOPLE.
The busboy and the older worker both offered to have a replacement salad done for me, but I don't know about you... when the moment is gone, it's gone. I don't want my sandwich to be gone, hubby to be finished or almost finished, then my salad come. It's like have to send back a steak, you know they will - but how much better if they just get it right the first time?
The older worker explained that his own mother can't eat their honey mustard, and then he kept repeating all the other things on the menu that she has to avoid. Things that read "spicy mustard," "remoulade," and "zing_____" - those of us that are spice-averse know to look for that. We read descriptions, pay attention, and ask questions. But if you doon't tell us and just choose to surprise with off-the-wall "norms," well - I won't say we won't be back, because hubby was very pleased. But it won't be at a rush hour time for toddlers, and you better hope you are not behind me in line, because I'm going to ask questions about every single thing I'm considering. read more